6s8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[MArcH 2 , 1891 . 
Sembawatta, Nawalapitiya, 1,500 feet. It will thus 
be seen that the altitudes at which the rain-clouds 
chiefly strike the sides of the mountain ranges in Cey- 
lon and have their vapour condensed into rain vary 
from 1,500 to 3,300 feet above sea-level. In India the 
rainiest station, Cherapunji, is at an altitude of 
about 4,300 feet on the side of the Himalayas; and 
were an observatory situated at an et^ual elevation 
near Adam’s Peak, its mean annual rainfall would 
probably amount to 300 inches, against nearly double 
that quantity at the Assam station, the rainiest 
on the globe. Meantime, from fi ures which have 
reached me, it seems that Elfindalb, at 3,000 feet 
elevation, and about g of a mile H. W. of Laxapana- 
gala, which, itself, rises about 3,000 feet still 
higher and is distinguished by a series of formi- 
dable cliffs, ought to be included and given first 
place amongst 
THE EAINBST POSITIONS IN CEYLON. 
P 
Like Theberton it is situated on the side of a valle 
down which run a series of parallel rivers whio 
have their origin on the Peak ranges, and alon& 
which the rain-laden winds of the S.-W. monsoon 
sweep, depositing liberally their pluvial treasures. 
From figures for 5 years, with which Mr. Grigg 
of Theberton has favoured me, it results that the 
average annual rainfall of Elfindale is no less than 
246-45 inches. In the first year of the series, 
1886, the quantity which fell closely approached 
300 inches,— the actual figures being 294-62 inches. 
Of this quantity 96-86 came in the first half of 
the year, with no less than 197-66 in the latter half. 
In the 4 months June to Sept, of that year, the 
deposit of condensed moisture was represented by 
such figures as the following : — 
June .. 39-64 inches 
July .. 42-59 ,, 
Aug. .. 66-72 ,, 
Sept. .. 41-08 ,, 
Total for 4 months 190 03 inches. A 
WET PERIOD 
certainly 1 There is no rainless month in the 
record, but Feb. 1888 had only 40 cents against 
an average of 2-21 inches. The highest 
average 48 36 inches is egainst June. The 
variations in the annual rainfall at Elfin, 
dale have been from the maximum of 294-52 in 
1886 to the minimum of 211-77 in 1889. But 
there has been no falling off such as Mr. George 
Grieg has experienced on Laxapana, for the rainfall 
of 1890 was 249-33 inches, or 3 inches in excess 
of the average. The annual average for Elfindale 
being 246-45, the monthly averages are January 
2.27 ; February 2-21 ; March 4-90 ; April 13-31 ; 
May ’26-46 and June 48-36 ; tho average for the 
first half of the year being 97-53 inches. In 
the second half of the year, the averages are: — 
July 33-74 ; August 35 21 ; September 33-16 ; 
October 27 09 ; November 12-53 and December 
71 8. So much for Elfindale, which would seem 
to receive 
MORE RAIN than THEBERTON 
in proportion to its nigher proximity to the great cloud- 
cooler Laxapanagala Against I of a mile S.-W. ofthis 
great and sleep mounlain, in the case of Elfindale, 
tho rain-gauge at Theberton bungalow bears 
\V. S.-W. from the mountain, distance one mile, whh 
an elevation higher by 315 feet than that of Elfindale, 
For tho 5 years ended 1889 the average rainfall 
of Theberton was 217-08 inches For the sunspot 
period of 11 years, to end of 1890, the average 
is 22111 inches: 82-64 for the first half of the 
year and 138 57 for the second half. In the 11 years 
the variations in the annual rainfall have been 
from 184-10 in 1885, the lowest, to 287-39 in 1882, 
a year of excessive rain in Dimbula as well as 
in districts nearer the Peak and its ranges. 
When we come to 
THE HEAVIEST RAINFALL IN ONE MONTH, 
Theberton, we believe, beats the record, with 
78-81 inches in June 1888, the figure for the 
whole of that year being however, somewhat below 
the average, viz : 216-81 against 221-11. It is 
curious to notice how inequalities are reduced or 
raised so as to give a return to averages. The 
excessive rainfall of 1882, when the figure was 
287-39, was followed by 205 73 for 1883 ; 194-40 
for 1884 ; and 184-10 for 1885. Then came a re- 
action in 1866 to 258-30, followed by 213-80 for 
1887. In the past 5 years the rainfall has been 
below the average, going down to 197-21 in 1890. 
But there has been no reduction of the general 
average, to compare with that which Mr. George 
Greig lately reported from the neighbouring 
Luxapana estate. There is a Laxapanagala 
estate, from which we should like to see re- 
turns. In 1890 the rain was measured at 
Theberton Factory, which is at 3,000 feet elevation, 
against 3,315 at the bungalow, and distant only 
f of a mile from Laxapanagala, against 1 mile in 
the case of the bungalow. The result was 208-84 
inches at the store, against 197 21 at the bungalow, 
a difierenoe of more than 11 inches. This shows 
the influence of 
POSITION AND TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES, 
with reference to rainfall. The monthly averages, 
established by 11 years’ observations at Theberton 
bungalow, are ; — Jan. 2-28 ; Feb. 2-87 ; March 6-14; 
April 9-45 ; May 21-58 ; June 40-19 ; July 30-98 ; 
Aug. 33-76; Sept. 24-33; Oct. 27-17; Nov. 13-50; 
and Deo. 8-82. With a record of 5 years’ 
observations, Elfindale, with an annual average of 
246-45 inches, is 
T B RAINIEST CEYLON ESTATE 
of which -we have any authentic knowledge, but we 
repeat our conviction that in some places on the 
slopes of the Peak and its flanking ranges, Laxapana- 
gala, &e., the annual average must be up to 300. 
We heard some years ago before it was established 
that tea could flourish not only in 70 inches per 
annum, but in 300, — that observations taken on 
some estates were suppressed for fear of impres- 
sions injurious to such estates being formed. To 
Mr. Grigg’s credit it is that he has always pub- 
lished the exact truth regarding the rainfall on 
Theberton ; and now equally authentic figures enable 
us to say that on one tea estate in Ceylon at 
least the annual average rainfall is close on 250 
inches. Let us now hear Mr. Grigg himself on these 
interesting returns In sending them, he wrote: — 
“ I send you Elfindale rainfall for 6 years and 
mine at Theberton bungalow lor 11 years and at my 
Factory for 1890. Also a rough sketch of how the 
rain-gauges stand as to the big Laxapanagala range, 
the highest peak of which stands above, at some 
3,000 to 4,000 ft. (The exact height of the peak has 
never been properly taken, as it was said by the 
surveyors, it was impossible to get on the top of it to 
place a trig which they wanted to do j so they have 
never bothered to get its height con ectly. Last year, 
however, the Peak was scaled by three young fellows, 
and a flag pDced on the top, distant from Theberton 
bungalow about one mile, as that old bird the crow 
flies.) The factory gauge is j mile from peak. Elfindale 
gauge g mile from the peak. All ore nearly in a 
straight line from the highest point, which bears 
W. ,S -W. Taking the W. N.-W. wind draught up the 
valley, this would deflect the S.-W. monsoon rain 
current to about W. S.-W., or right across our rain- 
gauges. You will note that Elfindale average for 5 
